We are starting 2020 with some wonderful news! Our Founder and Creative Director, Laura Umansky, has been awarded one of the industry’s highest honors: the ARTS Award for Interior Designer. Judged on overall professional achievements from the quality of work to business strategy, the ARTS Award is given annually to nearly two dozen showrooms, sales reps, manufacturers, and design leaders. The awards were handed out during a black-tie gala in Dallas’ historic Hilton Anatole hotel amidst the Dallas Market. Surrounded by our peers, we celebrated the best of our industry, which includes Laura! We couldn’t be more thrilled.
Official press release below:
LAURA UMANSKY WINS INTERIOR DESIGNER CATEGORY AT 31ST ANNUAL ARTS AWARDS
UMANSKY WAS AWARDED THE INDUSTRY’S HIGHEST HONOR BY A PANEL OF DESIGN LEADERS
DALLAS, TX – January 13, 2020 — Laura was announced as the winner of the Interior Designer category at the 31st Annual ARTS Awards, presented by Dallas Market Center and ART. The award ceremony took place at a black-tie gala on January 10th at the famous Hilton Anatole. Thom Filicia and Carson Kressley co-hosted the event, where more than twenty companies, brands, and designers were honored.
There were five nominees in the Interior Designer category, including Joni Vanderslice of J. Banks Design Group, Maegan Swabb of M. Swabb Interior Design, Libby Langdon of Libby Langdon Interiors, Shayla Copas of Shayla Copas Interiors, and Laura Umansky of Laura U Interior Design. This was Umansky’s first nomination and first win at the awards.
“I am so honored to be included with such an amazing group of nominees,” Umansky said. “It was a wonderful night of celebration, and I’m so happy my team and my family were able to take this award home with me. I couldn’t have done this without their support.”
The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to the home industry. Judging in the Interior Designer category was based on the finalist’s creative digital presentation, including résumé, marketing, and body of work. An expert panel of independent judges convened for two days to review each submission. Once all components of the judging process were complete, an independent accounting firm tabulated the scores and secured them until the winners were formally announced for the first time at the awards gala.
“Congratulations to this year’s ARTS Awards recipients and to our special honorees,” said Cindy Morris president and CEO of Dallas Market Center said. “It was an amazing evening of celebrating entrepreneurs and artists, sales leaders, and legendary figures.”
ABOUT LAURA UMANSKY
As Founder and Creative Director of Laura U Interior Design, Laura Umansky is known for her bright, bold, and sophisticated interiors. Her Houston-based firm offers both interior and residential building design services, making Laura U one of the few studios to provide a “wholistic” experience. Laura’s collaborative design process helps her clients articulate their unique personalities through the art of exceptional design, resulting in authentic and timeless interiors. Her design portfolio has been featured in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Forbes Magazine, and Modern Luxury Interiors Texas. She was profiled in the 2019 Rizzoli publication On Style: Inspiration and Advice from the New Generation of Interior Design, which featured the nation’s top 50 up-and-coming interior designers.